Bin and truck refuse disposal device



Feb. 18, 1958 H. E. cHAsTAlN ETAL BIN AND TRUCK REFUSE DISPOSAL DEVICE lI5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 16, 1955 ATTORNEYS Feb. 18, 1958 H. E. cHAsTAlN ErAL 2,823,818

BIN AND TRUCK REFUSE DISPOSAL DEVICE Filed May 1e, 1955 3' sheets-sheet 2 TTRNEYS' 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. '18, 1958 IH. E. cHAsTAlN ErAL BIN AND TRUCK REFUSE DISPOSAL DEVICE Filed May 16, 1955 United States Patent C BIN AND TRUCK REFUSE DISPOSAL DEVICE Hartley E. Chastain and Robert B. Monroe, Carmichael, Calif.

Application May 16, 1955, Serial No. 508,377 1 Claim. (Cl. 214-518) The invention relates to devices for disposing of refuse and more particularly to refuse disposal devices in which the container for the refuse is mountable on and demountable from a bed of a truck or other vehicle used to carry the container to and from the disposal area.

It is an object of the invention to provide a refuse dise posal device having a container which can readily be placed in a location near refuse-generating activities and areas.

It is another object of the invention to provide a refuse disposal device in which the refuse container can be transported quickly, conveniently and inexpensively to and from a refuse disposal area and in which the loading and unloading of the container on and from the transporting unit is effected in an expeditious fashion.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a refuse disposal device in which but a single transporting unit is capable of servicing a considerable number of container units or refuse bins.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a refuse disposal device which is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture and yet which is rugged and durable enough to withstand very considerable rough treatment.

It is a yet further object of the invention to provide a refuse disposal device in which the refuse disposal bin can be moved from one location to another location, or from one location to the refuse disposal area and back to any chosen location by only one operator.

It is another object of the invention to provide a refuse disposal device having a refuse bin which provides a hinged backboard enabling a person to dispose of refuse in the bin in a convenient fashion, the backboard deflecting and directing downwardly into the bin space any refuse thrown across the bin and against the backboard.

It is another object of the invention to provide a generally improved refuse disposal device.

Other objects, together with the foregoing, are attained in the embodiment described in the accompanying description and shown in the drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of the refuse bin and a portion of the frame of the transporting vehicle, the bin loading and unloading sub-frame and attendant parts being shown in a position preparatory to receiving the bin or subsequent to lowering the bin from the vehicle.

Figure 2 is a median vertical longitudinal section, to an enlarged scale, ofa portion of the structure shown in Figure l.

Figure 3 is a view'comparable to Figure 2 but showing the parts with the bin in a partially elevated position preparatory to the bins being elevated onto the subframe or lowered therefrom.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the bin located on the transporting vehicle and with the sub-frame elevated to an attitude approximating the position utilized to empty the bin of refuse, and which also approximates the angular elevation of the sub-frame when the bin is to be dismountedtherefrom. t

2,823,818 Patented Feb. 1s, 195s Figure 5 is a front view of the bin, and showing, Vin outline, the position of the bin top when serving as a back stop during iilling of the bin.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the rear portion of the vehicle and sub-frame and the forward portion of the bin,`

portions of the sub-frame being broken away to disclose the underlying structure of the main frame.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of a portion of the lower rear portion of the bin and sub-frame to an enlarged scale, and illustrating the construction of the tailgate latch structure.

Figure 8 is a view on the plane indicated by the line 3-8 of Figure 7.

While the refuse disposal device of our invention is susceptible of numerous physical embodiments, depending upon the particular environmental situation to be met, several of the herein shown and described devices have been manufactured and used in actual operation, and have performed in an eminently satisfactory fashion.

It has been found that the cheapest and most efficient way of` disposing of refuse originating at construction jobs, freight distribution yards, warehouses and Vother similar activities is by bulk handling of the refuse, a

single operator and a single transporting unit servicing a plurality of refuse collecting units. At each refuseoriginating location is placed a bin 11, or container, serving as a receptacle forA the refuse. The size of each bin is adjusted to suit the rate of accumulation of the refuse and frequency of servicing; the style of bin depending on the character of the refuse to be handled.

Serving to support the bin is a pair of longitudinal skidv members 12 disposed on each side of a longitudinal vertical median plane 13 and being rounded adjacent their forward ends 14 and rear ends 15. Extending vertically upwardly from the forward ends 14 is a corresponding pair of vertical members 16, the vertical members 16 cooperating with the horizontal members 12 to create a rigid or stiff structure adding substantially to the strength of the bin. The vertical members 16, furthermore, serve as buffers or bumpers in a manner later to be described; the horizontal members or skids also serving to cooperate with the transporting unit of the device in a fashion subsequently to be described. Mounted transversely on the skids 12 are a plurality of channel members 17, or iloor joists, supporting a flat plate 18`serving as a bottom, or bed, for the container 11.

For many purposes, the skid and bumper construction supplemented by the transverse frame members 17 and the bottom plate 18 serve adequately as a refuse depository, especially for refuse of the kind comprising empty boxes or crates which are to be discarded. Where, however, the refuse comprises irregularly shaped particles such as wood, paper, chunks of plaster and sweepings, it is preferable to use a partially enclosed type of bin, such bin being provided with a pair of vertical sides 19 and a forward wall 20 held in place by appropriate vertical frame members 21. Furthermore, where the refuse can be expected to include particles such as dust or pieces of paper which could be blown out of the bin during transportation thereof, it is preferable to supply the bin with a cover or top. While a number of top arrangements are feasible, a construction utilizing a single top 22, or lid, pivotally mounted on one side of the bin as by suitable hinge members 23 has been found to be very satisfactory. The lid member 22 serves not only as an enclosure but also as an effective backboard when raised to a vertical or substantially vertical position, as appears in outline in Figure 5. The lid is kept in vertical attitude during loading of the refuse and with the cover in such position,l a worker need merely throw the refuse in the direction of the bin and at an elevation high enough to clear the adjacent bin wall. Such refuse as passes over the open bin mouth toward' the raised cover strikes the raised cover and is deflected downwardly into the bin.

Iny orderl to raise the lid 22 to any given or desired position and to hold itin such. position against the downward gravital force exerted by the lid, lid lifting and POSitiOning mechanism. 27 is provided. They lid mechanis-m includes atransversely disposed shaft 28 journaled in the vertical bumper members 16 and in a flange 29 adjacent the end of the axle upon which an appropriate shaft rotating handle 30` is mounted. The other end of the shaft 28 is journaled in a gear box 31 and adjacent the shaft end is mounted a Worm. 32 in engagement with a gear 33 mounted on a longitudinal stub shaft 34 having a first arm 36 secured thereto, the iirst arm 36 being pivotally connected to a second arm 37A pivotally attached to the lid at anA appropriate location, for example the location indicated by the numeral 38. By appropriate, rotation of the handle 30, the shaft 28 and worm 32 are rotated, such rotation being transmitted tothe gear 33 andthe shaft 34, thus causing the arms 36 and. 37 to urge either upwardly or downwardly the lid 22. By adjusting the dimensions of the worm and gear appropriately, the wormv and gear can be made of the self-locking typel so that the lid can be positioned in any convenient location and will there retain its position, regardless of the force of gravity or of shocks imparted to the open lid'by refuse being thrown against it.

The bin is preferably unloaded by gravity, unloading taking-place by tipping or inclining the bin at the refuse disposal area so that the waste material within. the bin falls outwardly through a tail-gate 41 located on the rear end of the bin, the tail-gate being pivotally connected to the uppery trailing edge of the bin as by hinges 42. Ordinarily, and until such time as dumpingy is to take place, the tail-gateisnot free to swing open, but instead is held shut by a latch mechanism 43 whose construction appears most clearly in Figures 7 and 8. The latching mechanism 43 comprises a latch bar 44 pivotally mounted about a pin 46 on the frame of the bin, the latch bar extending in a rearward direction and terminating in an arcuately rounded portion 47, or camming sector, adapted to pass through` a vertical slot 48 in the tail-gate. A notch 49 is provided on the bottom edge of theflatch bar to engage with, under urgency of a spring 50, the-material 51 of the tail-gate 41 located below the slot 48. By urging upwardly the latch bar, as by pushing upwardlyon a transversely outwardly projecting kick-plate 52 mounted on the latch bar, the spring 50is compressed and the latch sector 47 is brought into registry with the slot 48 in the tail-gate so that the tail-gate, under force of gravity, is free tov swing outwardly away from thebottom of the bin and to assume the. position shownapproxirnately in outline in Figure 4 and indicated by the numeral 53.

When the bin is lowered from itsinclined position, shown for example in Figure 4, to a horizontal-attitude, the tail-gate 41, underv force ofgravity, swings from its openposition to a closed and latched position. As the tail-gate and the slot 48 thereinswing toward ther end of thel latch, the material 51 at theA lower end of the slot comes into contact, with the arcuate camming portion 47 and cams or urges the latch bar upwardly against downward spring, force, the weight of thetail-gate being sufficient to lift the latchl bar far enough so that the notch 49 again` assumes the'tail-gate latching position shown most clearly in Figure 7.

As appears most clearly inV Figures 2y and 6, a yoke 55, or pull ring, is mounted on top of the skids 12, asby welding, the yoke including a pair of forwardly and downwardly inclined arms 56 and terminating in a rounded leading portion. 57 extending forwardly of the vertical plane of the bins front wall 20, and as shown most clearly in Figure 6.

While the bin serves as a convenient receptacle for refuse, and might under some circumstances be utilized for that purpose alone, its greatest utility resides in its ability conveniently to be hoisted aboard a specially adapted transportation unit to be securely conined during transportation, to have its contents unloaded in a disposal area and to be returned to its appointed location. Frequently, the disposal areas are located at a considerable distance from the bin positions and, quite often, it is necessary that the transportation unit traverse public highways. ln suchl circumstances, it is preferable that the transportation unit, generally designa-ted by the numeral 61, comprise a suitably proportioned motor vehicle such as a truck having a chassis 62 suspended by springs 63 on ground engagingr truck wheels 64 of conventionall make. The truck chassis 62 preferably includes a pair of longitudinal structural members 66. On the chassis' members 66 is mounted a main frame 67, or stationary frame, comprising a pair of longitudinally disposed channels 68, and pivotally mounted on the main frame 67 adjacent the trailing ends of the channels 68 is a subframe 69, or movable frame, comprising a pair of longitudinal channel members 7l. Extending betweeny the rear ends of the longitudinal members 71 is a transverse channel member 72, and in order, further, to strengthen the sub-frame 69 and to support an idler pulley mechanism 73 a transversely disposed pulley supporting member 74 is mounted between the longitudinal members 71, adjacent the rear end of the sub-frame but forward of the rearmost member 72. Forward of the cross member '74, and made considerably larger for greater strength, is a forward transverse member 76 extending between the longitudinal members 71, the cross member 76 serving to absorb and transmit to the sub-frame the thrust of a pair of plungers 77 each actuated by a cylinder 78, for example of the hydraulic type. As appropriate valves of conventional construction are manipulated by the operator of the transportation unit, the plunger bars 77 are translated either inwardly or outwardly or" the cylinders and, depending upon the direction oftheir motion, either raise or lower the sub-frame 69 which is tilted about an axle 79'extending through the sub-frame 69 and through the members 68 of the main frame 67 so that the sub-frame 69 can be tilted or inclined with respect to the main frame 67 to an amount wit-hin the close control of the operator.

The sub-frame 69 not only comprises the tiltable boxlike reinforced structure, heretofore described, but also includes other mechanism especially adapted to handle and service the bin in a convenient and expeditious fashion.

Mounted securely on the uppermost sides of the pair of longitudinal members 71 of the sub-frame is a pair of longitudinally extending tracks 81 each having a bottom 82, an inner side 83 and an outer side 34 fabricated so as to form, in section, a U.-shaped member, The forward or leading endsof theA tracks are capped, as shown in Figures l and 4, by a transverse channel member 86. The trailing or rear ends of the-tracks, howevenare open, with the outer. sides 84 of eachv ofthe tracks being flared outwardly to form a receiving and guiding wall 87 adapted to receive and guide into the main or central trackV portion the vertical, bumpers 16 and the skids 12 regardless of some` slight misalignment of those members when loading of the bin is toV be undertaken. In order to increase the rigidity of the tracks,l adjacent their rearward ends, atv transverse channel member 88 is mounted on the-lower sides of each of the tracks, the channel member 88 extending outwardly beyond the outer sides of each ofthe tracks and terminating in a location slightly outboard of the sides of the bin when the bin is in central location with respect to the transportation unit and, as appears most clearly in Figure 6.

In order to reduce the friction between the abutting parts as loading or unloadingdof thefbinttakes place,.tl:iere` is provideda pair of rollers 91 mounted on a transverse'- shaft 92 supported in a pair of bearings 93 aflixed to the rear side of the transverse member 88 by brackets 94. The rollers 91 are located below openings 90 inthe bottomsLofthe rear ends of th/tracks 81 and rotate as the vertical bumper'members 16 and the longitudinal skids 12 are moved upwardly into sliding engagement with the track. Furthermore, as the bin is unloaded or disengaged from" the tracks 81, the rollers 91 serve to reduce the friction' and enable the force of gravity to assist the unloading procedure in a reverse fashion, that is to say, the skids 12 first roll in a rearward direction over the rollers 91 and thence as the bin is lowered, the bumpers 16 roll downwardly along the rearward tangential portion of the rollers.

The mechanism utilized to raise or lift the bin onto the sub-frame, to hold the bin in a super-posed position on the sub-frame and to lower and unload the bin from the transportation unit comprises a cable 101 reeved about a power windlass 102 mounted between the longitudinal members of the truck chassis. The cable runs from the power windlass 102 rearwardly, is reeved about the idler pulley 73 and proceeds forwardly on a run 103 to a cablepositioning pulley 104, or forward pulley, mounted on the front side of the transverse channel member k86 on the sub-frame. From the cable-centering pulley 104, the cable proceeds along a run 105 in a rearward direction and is reeved over the upper side of a drum 96 mounted on the transverse axle92 and between the bearings 93. The cable 101 terminates in a hook 106 adapted to receive and engage the leading portions 57 of the yoke 55.

When loading of the bin onto the transportation unit is to be undertaken, the truck is backed until the rollers 91 are in close abutment with the vertical bumpers 16 of the bin, and assume the position shown most clearly in Figure 6. At this juncture, the operator actuates the hydraulic plunger mechanism and the sub-frame is inclined upwardly to assume the attitude shown, for example, in Figure 1. The hook 106 on the free end of the cable 101 is then engaged with the forward or leading end 57 of the pull-ring S and the power driven windlass 102 thereupon actuated. As the windlass 102 commences to turn in a clockwise direction, as appears in Figure 1, the wire cable between the windlass and the idler pulley 73 is urged in a right-hand direction as indicated by the arrow 111 in Figure 2 and by a corresponding left-hand motion of the run 103 of the cable between the idler pulley and the positioning pulley, the motion being in the direction of the arrow 112. Concurrently, the motion of the uppermost run 105 of the cable is in the direction shown by the arrow 113. The hook 106 is thereby pulled upwardly and ldraws with it the pull-ring 55 and the front end of the As the `front or leading end of the vertical bumpers 16 ride upwardly, in the direction shown by the arrow 116, in Figure 3, the force exerted by the cable is almost entirely in a vertically upward direction, there being, however, a slight component of force in a right-hand direction, the rightand force component serving to keep the leading edge of the bumper 16 in close engagement with the rollers 91 at all times during lifting. As soon as the rounded portions 14 at the junctions of the vertical bumpers 16 and skids 12 commence to ride upwardly and toward the right over the rollers 91, the vertical force originally exerted on the bin by the cable is altered or converted to a largely horizontal force acting in a direction substantially parallel with the longitudinal tracks 81, the resultant upward sliding motion of the bin being most clearly indicated in the progressive positions shown in Figures 2 and 3. As can be seen by reference to those figures, the diameter of the drum 96 is so adjusted with respect to the position of the forward end 57 of the pull-ring 55 that the forward or leading edge of the bumpers 16 is at all times held against the rollers 91 but without producing a binding of the parts as the rounded portion 14 approaches and proceeds upwardly and over the top of the rollers 91. After the bottoms of the skids 12 have been pulled upwardly so as to ride onto the upper sides of the rollers 91, further pull on the cable 101 causesthe vertical bumpers 16 and the leading roundedportions 14 of the skids 12 to enter between the corresponding vertical sides 83 and 84 of the tracks 81, and, as movement of the cable proceeds still further, the bottoms of the skids 12 are caused to ride forwardly and upwardly along the tracks and supported by the bottoms 82 of the tracks, the skids being guided by the tracks and the bin moving in a straight line. The sub-frame is preferably inclined to such an attitude during bin loading that as the skids are moved into the tracks, the bin continues to assume an angle with respect to the horizontal which is slightly less than the angle assumed by the sub-frame. Thus, for a period only the forward rounded portions 14 of the skids engage with the tracks, and sliding friction is thereby reduced. As the bin moves upwardly, however, and continues, under urgency of the cable, to its fully supported position, as appears most clearly in Figure 4, the bin settles down into full trackengaging and track-supported position.

At this juncture, the operator causes the .hydraulic mechanism to lower the sub-frame in the direction shown by the arrow in Figure 4, to a horizontal position wherein the sub-frame Vis supported by the main frame and by the vehicle chassis. The operator is then able to drive the vehicle to the refuse disposal area secure in the knowledge that since the cable holding the bin is kept in tight check, the bin cannot slide rearwardly and olf the frame, even under substantial forward acceleration of the vehicle and cannot become dislodged byl bumps resulting from irregularities in the road surface.

Upon arrival at the refuse disposal area, it is only necessary that the operator back his vehicle up to the edge of the refuse `disposal pit or trench, and brake his vehicle with the rear end of the sub-frame and the bin overlying the edge of the pit or trench. The operator then actuates the hydraulic plunger, causing t-he sub-frame and bin to assume an inclined position, approximately as appears in Figure 4.

In order, easily, to unlock or unlatch the tail-gate 41 p so as to permit the tail-gate to assume the dumping position shown in outline in Figure 4, and designated by the numeral 53, the operator need only trip the lunlatching mechanism, generally designated by the numeral 121. The unlatching mechanism 121 is conveniently duplicated on both sides of the frame so as to permit the operator to trip the mechanism regardless of which side of the truck he chooses to work from. Since each of the unlatching mechanisms is substantially the same, a description of one will serve equally to describe the other. Rotatably disposed within a transverse sleeve 122, mounted on the transverse channel member 88, is an axle 123 bent forwardly adjacent its outer extremity to form a handle 124. Securely mounted on the axle 123 and extending in a rearward and downward direction is a rst lever arm 126, pivotally mounted adjacent the bottom end of a lever bar 127 having pivotally mounted adjacent the upper end thereof, a second lever arm 128 pivotally mounted on the frame as by a pin 129, the linkage arms 126 and 128 being substantially parallel and serving to maintain upright and to move in a slightly arcuate path the lever bar 127. Projecting upwardly from the upper end of the lever bar 127 is a kick-bar 131 whose upper end 132 is ordinarily located slightly below the kick plate 52 extending laterally from the latch bar 44. As the handle 124 is depressed, in a downward direction, the linkages cause the upper end 132 of the kick-bar 131 to impinge or strike against the kick plate 52 and in this fashion, to urge the latch bar 44 upwardly against the spring force of the spring 50. Since, in an upward position of the latch bar, the latch bar notch 49 no longer engages the tail-gate, the force of gravity acting on the gate when the bin is in an inclined attitude is able freely to swing the gate rearwardly to assume the position shown in outline in Figure 4, the refuse within the bin then being free to spill rearwardly and outwardly through the tail-gate opening. After the tail-'gate has been opened the operator can, ifl necessary, incline or tilt the sub-frame and bin upwardly to an even steeper angle to permit total' emptying of the bin, the cable still holding `the bin in its proper location.

When the bin has been emptied, the operator causes the hydraulic actuator to lower the sub-frame and the bin into their normal horizontal positions on the truck frame, the tail-gate concurrently closing and being latched as closure takes place in the fashion heretofore described. The bin can thereupon be carted back to its appointed position, and, upon arriving at that location, the truck is again stopped and the sub-frame and bin inclined up- Wardly to a position approximately as shown in Figure 4, whereupon the cable can be slowly paid olf the windlass. By' appropriate inclination of the sub-frame and proper paying out of the cable, the bin will, of its own weight, slide rearwardly down the tracks gently to touch the ground and until the rounded portions 14 of the skids roll over and off the rollers 91. Further letting-oil of the cablel permits the operator to lower the bin gently to the supporting ground or other surface. Some experience is required of the operator in order to permit the bin to slide to the ground without jarring, but within a relatively short time, operators not only acquire the skill of performing the unloading function very smoothly but the entire servicing operation of lifting the bin, carting, disposing of the refuse, and returning the bin is quickly acquired.

It can therefore be seen that we have provided a refuse disposal device which enables but a single operator efficiently to dispose of unwanted material, and without the necessity of any manhandling of the bin or attendant parts with the exception of hooking the cable to thc bin and of opening or closing the lid by the worm gear mechanism. Within a matter of a few moments, a bin can be loaded on a transportation unit or unloaded therefrom; the emptying or flushing of the bin can, furthermore, be performed with great speed and even the time required for transporting the bin to and from the refuse disposal area isf greatly reduced owing to the secure support furnished the bin by the sub-frame and by the holding effort exerted by the cable.

What is claimed is:

A refuse disposal device comprising a horizontal main frame; a sub-frame pivotally mounted adjacent its rear end on the rear end of said main frame to rotate about a transverse axle with a predetermined arc; a first pulley on the front end of said sub-frame; a second pulley mounted adjacent to and forwardly of said transverse axle; a power-driven windlass mounted on said frame, the axis of rotation of said windlass being at substantially the same elevation above said main frame as the axis of rotation of said second pulley; a cable reeved about said windlass and taking oi from the upper periphery of said windlass and running toward the lower periphery of said second pulley whereby the run of said cable is directed toward a location below said axle when said sub-frame is in substantially horizontal attitude and toward a location above said axle when said sub-frame is in an attitude of maximum inclination from the horizontal, said cable further being reeved about said second pulley and said rst pulley seriatim; means for tilting said sub-frame between said horizontal attitude and said attitude of maximum inclination, and for supporting said sub-frame in attitudes inclined from the horizontal; and a refuse bin adapted to translate along said sub-frame under urgency of said cable.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,713,271 Eason May 14, 1929 1,870,573 Kuchar Aug. 9, 1932 2,021,952 Wren Nov. 26, 1935 2,534,156 Wyatt et al. Dec. 12, 1950 2,580,501 Anderson et al. Jan. 1, 1952 2,588,001 Holland Mar. 4, 1952 2,613,827 Van Doorne Oct. 14, 1952 2,621,819 Terho et al. Dec. 16, 1952 2,745,566 Bouiard May 15, 1956 2,789,715 Filipotf et al. Apr. 23, 1957 

